High school football: RB Nick Delisa another option for loaded Mentor offense

By John Kampf

Thursday, November 8, 2012

It's not difficult to overlook Nick Delisa.

At 5-foot-7, 150 pounds, Mentor's senior running back doesn't necessarily pass the eye test when taking the field with the rest of the Cardinals' offense, which is fraught with Division I college talent.

But after the game he had last Saturday against visiting Warren Harding in a Division I regional quarterfinal, the days of overlooking Delisa might be over.

Then again, if teams didn't notice Delisa after 10 games, it's probably their own fault if they get burnt by the diminutive Delisa, anyway.

In his best game yet as a Cardinal, Delisa carried the ball 12 times for 93 yards in a 45-35 victory over Warren Harding. But it was his five catches for 171 yards and three touchdowns that turned heads.

None of those words would have been used to describe Delisa heading into fall camp. Two years of junior varsity action produced very little.

"My sophomore year, I don't think I had any (touchdowns)," Delisa said. "Last year as a junior, I had three or four, maybe."

Heading into Saturday's regional semifinal against undefeated St. Edward, Delisa is second on the team with 675 yards rushing and is among the team leaders in receiving with 29 catches for 413 yards. He has scored a combined 19 touchdowns, 10 on the ground and nine through the air.

He is also the team's top punt-returner, with 11 returns for 117 yards.

"I don't know," said Delisa with a smile when asked where the sudden productivity came from. "I'm surprised. I didn't think I would do this good."

Delisa entered the regular season with an outside shot at being a contributor. But with Division I recruits Brandon Fritts and Conner Krizancic at receiver, along with fleet-footed Corey Plavcan and steady Matt Schaefer out wide, opportunities were deemed to be few.

Especially in a five-wide attack in which quarterback Mitch Trubisky is not only a 2,500-yard passer, but is also the top running threat.

The big question for Delisa was where to fit in and find a niche?

"We knew he would probably be the fifth guy," Coach Steve Trivisonno said. "Right now, he's as important as any guy out there. ... To expect him to play this well, I'd tell you it's a surprise."

Fritts, one of the top junior receivers in Ohio, is among those who isn't as surprised. He noticed Delisa's work ethic in the offseason in the weight room and during drills in August.

"He's definitely the hardest worker on our offense," Fritts said. "You rarely ever see him during practice drop a ball. He's a perfectionist. He does everything right. He's a great player."

If he hadn't done so already, Delisa showed that against Warren Harding with his 264 yards of total offense.

The highlight of Delisa's night was his 52-yard touchdown reception in which Trubisky hit him in stride coming out of the backfield on the visitor's side. Delisa sped down the sideline away from all but two defenders, who were between him and the goal line. Over the last 20 yards, Delisa changed directions three times, virtually spinning the defenders in circles with each movement, before crossing the goal line.

"That puts a smile on your face as a coach when you see that (play) go," Trivisonno said.

Delisa is the first person to admit that his productivity this season has come thanks in part to the other members of Mentor's vaunted offense being on the field at the same time. Opposing teams' top cornerbacks are going to be locked onto Fritts and Krizancic. Plavcan and Schaefer command a measure of respect, too. And it's safe to assume all 11 defenders have to know where North Carolina recruit Trubisky is going.

That usually leaves a linebacker on Delisa because, as Delisa admits, he tends to get lost in the shuffle of defensive priorities.

"Yeah, I feel like I can burn a linebacker deep," Delisa said.

"I like him matched up against just about anybody," Fritts said matter-of-factly.

The success story of Nick Delisa makes all the Cardinals smile, not only because he went from junior varsity anonymity to a varsity phenom in one year, but also because he has added another weapon to an already dangerous Mentor offense.

Delisa said many of his opportunities are opened because opposing defenses are locked into Trubisky, Fritts, Krizancic and anyone else not wearing No. 17.

"They double-cover those guys and it just leaves me open," Delisa said.

There's a difference between simply being open and making a team pay for leaving you open.

Delisa has made teams pay for 11 weeks now. He might be overlooked at 5-foot-7 and 150 pounds, but his productivity cannot be overlooked any longer.

"He's had a great year," Trivisonno said. "He's been able to do it, whether it be running the ball or catching the ball.

"It's neat to see. He came on and exploded onto the scene as a great football player."